Teenage athlete felt trapped after Alan Jones allegedly groped his genitals while driving the veteran broadcaster: 'Didn't want to lose those things'

By ADELAIDE LANG FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 09:47, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 09:48, 3 August 2026 A former athlete has revealed he was scared he would lose everything if he reported being allegedly indecently assaulted by veteran broadcaster Alan Jones, 'one of the most powerful men in the country'. The 85-year-old faced the first day of a marathon local court hearing on Monday after he pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent. Six complainants allege Jones indecently assaulted or sexually touched them between 2003 and 2020 at various locations across Sydney and the NSW Southern Highlands. None of the complainants can be identified for legal reasons. One of the men had been 14 years old and an up-and-coming athlete when he met Jones, who later gave him a phone and a car so he could travel to training. The former talkback host also paid the athlete a weekly allowance of up to $400 to allow him to focus on sport, which increased to $600 after Jones allegedly indecently assaulted him. Jones told the athlete he loved him and gave him a slobbering kiss with a 'chomping motion' that required him to wipe his face afterwards, the complainant told the court on Monday. 'You've been a really good boy. I'm going to give you some more money,' he claims Jones told him afterwards. Alan Jones smiled while departing Downing Centre Local Court after the first day of his trial The veteran broadcaster (pictured in court sketch) has pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of indecent assault and sexual touching without consent. The athlete said he was grateful for the radio host's generosity but their relationship was tainted by multiple unwanted kisses and groping incidents. 'I was fearful of him but I was also accepting these things from him,' he told the court. 'Did I say yes to those (advances)? No, I didn't. 'Was I doing everything I could to push him away? No, I wasn't because I didn't want to lose those things.' The complainant described feeling trapped as Jones groped his genitals while he drove a Mercedes - which he deemed 'worth more than his life' - at 80 km/h on a regional road. 'I had one of the most powerful men in the country in the car. I had to focus on the road,' he said. He had been scared it would keep happening but was reluctant to confront Jones or tell anyone about the alleged sexual misconduct for fear he might lose everything. But Jones's barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC suggested the athlete - and others - may have concocted the allegations. One alleged victim recalling fearing that he would lose everything if he reported being  indecently assaulted by Jones (pictured arriving at court on Monday) 'Rivalry, treachery, double dealing, money, hatred, desperation, opportunism and more are at the heart of this case,' she told the court during her opening address. She claimed the allegations against her client contain contamination, reconstruction and were inflamed by Jones's media rivals. 'This court will finally see the evidence of what all the complainants did not tell police,' the defence barrister said. Jones is accused of groping a second man, who worked with him, while he drove and kissing him repeatedly without consent. A witness is expected to say he saw the man's uncomfortable face as Jones allegedly touched him under the table in a separate alleged incident. But Ms Bashir accused the young man of rewriting his history with the broadcaster. Jones also cosied up to a swimmer, calling him 'handsome' and a 'superstar' before indecently assaulting him and sexually touching him without consent, the court was told. He allegedly approached the swimmer at an awards ceremony and kissed him on the corner of the mouth. 'Darling, great to see you … I love you,' the radio host allegedly texted the swimmer afterwards. The athlete alleged his relationship with Alan Jones (pictured) was tainted by multiple unwanted kisses and groping incidents The unwanted kiss 'simply did not happen', Ms Bashir argued, urging the court to dismiss the charges. The former Wallabies coach is also accused of indecently assaulting two 17-year-old boys and an older man by touching their bottoms without consent. He has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, declaring that he 'never indecently assaulted these people' in December 2024. National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.